The revitalization project of Tenreiro Aranha Square and of the area surrounding the Adolpho Lisboa Market in Manaus was presented on the morning of August 11th by the Director-President of the Municipal Urban Planning Institute (Implurb), Roberto Moita. The meeting held in Manaus City Hall building was attended by the municipal secretaries, the Mayor Arthur Neto,

The revitalization project of Tenreiro Aranha Square and of the area surrounding the Adolpho Lisboa Market in Manaus was presented on the morning of August 11th by the Director-President of the Municipal Urban Planning Institute (Implurb), Roberto Moita. The meeting held in Manaus City Hall building was attended by the municipal secretaries, the Mayor Arthur Neto, the Superintendent of the Historic and Artistic National Institute (IPHAN), Almir de Oliveira, and the National Coordinator of the Historic Cities PAC, Robson de Almeida.

Regarding the revitalization of Tenreiro Aranha Square, Moita explained that it is expected to bring the space up to the accessibility standards, install a new public lighting system of the same quality as others found on the streets of Manaus, as well as signage, outdoor furniture, and landscaping.

The project also intends to rescue the square's 1920s architecture. Moita reported that the project will extend to the Pavilhão Universal, which had previously served as a central location for the exchange of indigenous handcrafts, to be used as a tourist information point.

In his presentation, the director-president reported that the revitalization projects will also cover the area around Adolpho Lisboa Municipal Market, which includes the roads Barés, Barão de São Domingos, Miranda Leão, Travessa Tabelião Lessa, Avenida Manaus Moderna and the Praça do Mercado (Market Square). “The work is going to restore the original elements of the pavement on the sidewalks and streets, enhancing the environment and trees in the area,” Moita said.

The National Coordinator of the Historic Cities PAC, Robson de Almeida, reported that Manaus didn't receive investment yet because plans had not been finalized. “Our main bottleneck was not having ready plans. For a long time Manaus didn’t have any plans," he explained.

The Superintendent of IPHAN, Almir de Oliveira, explained the importance of the revitalization, the historic renovation for a city like Manaus, and guaranteed that the organization will work with the city to connect the people of Manaus with its history.

The Proprietor of the Municipal Secretary of Infrastructure (Seminf), Antônio Nelson, reported that the revitalization of the downtown includes ten different projects. Among these works, Matriz and Adalberto Vale Squares are already underway, and joining them are Tenreiro Aranha Square and the roads near the municipal market.

Eduardo Ribeiro Avenue is the New Target

Mayor Arthur Neto reported that, in addition to the revitalization of the squares and of the market’s surroundings, he intends to present new proposals for the downtown area of Manaus. Among the ideas, the mayor said that it’s planned to restore Eduardo Ribeiro Avenue to the Belle Epoque architectural style.

“To restore the history of Eduardo Ribeiro Avenue to the Belle Epoque period, we will need to refurbish the facades of the buildings. In addition to the avenue, we also plan to restore our history with the renovation of the Municipal House and the Chinelo Cabaret,” he stated. The mayor guaranteed that the renovation of Avenida Eduardo Ribeiro will be done with the city’s own resources and that it is intended to be realized during summer 2015.

Fate of Local Artisans Uncertain

The artisans, who have occupied Tenreiro Aranha Square for 20 years have not received any information regarding their fate.

According to Azmy Sulainan, the 46 artisans are in favor of the project, but are worried about their situation.“We are not against the renovation in anyway. It is clear that the square definitely needs it, but we should have received a written notification of support which the secretaries did not provide, so we know only what’s in the news,” she said.

In the project’s presentation, Mayor Neto guaranteed that 20 artisans will get a space in the Remédios Gallery, while the others will stay temporarily on José Clemente Street in the downtown.

Has there been historic preservation projects in your community? Who are the officials and agencies that were involved? Were any groups affected by the reforms? Share your thoughts and city’s stories in the comments area below.

Anna Petrone is a transportation engineering masters student at the University of Maryland, with a Bachelor in Math and Economics. Her interests lie in transportation projects located in developing countries, particularly in South America. She took a...

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